Ryder Cup Preview

On this special episode, Jeff breaks down the strategies, player selection, and significance of the iconic tournament: The Ryder Cup. Jeff focuses on Captain Zach Johnson’s picks - Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Ricky Fowler, Sam Burns, and Justin Thomas. Jeff dives into their unique contributions, the reasons behind their selection, and the important role of experience in shaping a Ryder Cup team.

But wait, there's more! The discussion doesn't stop at team USA. We turn our gaze towards the European team, scrutinizing their strategies, and the potential impact their selected players could have on the tournament. Engaging and insightful, this episode explores the dynamics that make the Ryder Cup an exceptional event. We discuss the ebbs and flows of the game, the role of fans, and the electrifying atmosphere that defines this tournament. Whether you’re a golf fanatic, a finance enthusiast or just a sports lover, this episode is right up your alley. Buckle up for an insightful ride into the world of golf.

Important Links & Info:
Follow Jeff:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffsmithaz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002927397116
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-smith-40627016/

Jeff Smith - Tiger Home Loans
📲 480.909.4000
📩 [e-mail]
🔗 www.tigerhomeloans.com
Equal Housing Opportunity
Tiger Home Loans NMLS: 2425582 NMLS: 413643

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the show fairways and finance.
My name is Jeff Smith.
I've been in the mortgagebusiness for 16 years top
quarter percent L O nationwide.
And you know this podcast.
We want to talk about yourfinances, how to grow and
accumulate wealth and all thingsrelated to the mortgage
industry.
But we're golf lovers here aswell, so we're going to work in
some golf.
Don't worry for my golf loversout there.

(00:26):
We got you and I hope you enjoythe show.
Hey, welcome back to the showfairways and finance.
My name is Jeff Smith, I'm yourhost and wanting to talk to you
today about the Ryder Cup picks.
So let's get into a little golffor once.
This is fairways and finance,after all, and captain Zach

(00:48):
Johnson selected his sixcaptains picks for the Ryder Cup
today and there were somesurprise couple surprises, but
not crazy surprises.
So captains picks Brooks Kepka,jordan Spieth, Colin Morakawa,
ricky Fowler, sam Burns andJustin Thomas.

(01:10):
So you know of those guys.
You know Brooks Kepka littlesurprising because he's on live,
but you really can't deny him.
I mean, he almost won theMasters, he won the PGA
championship.
He is one of the best playersin the world.
He's one of those guys thatrises to the occasion on the
biggest stages and he has RyderCup experience.

(01:32):
He's a good putter, great ballstriker, I mean he's no doubt
one of the best players in theworld.
I think he's ranked 14th in theworld right now, but that's
because on the live tour youdon't get world golf ranking
points.
So Brooks Kepka definitelymakes sense.
Jordan Spieth had a reasonablysolid year this year.
He's got Ryder Cup experienceand a lot of it.

(01:54):
He's played big and big timeevents.
He's a veteran, so to speak.
Colin Morakawa, phenomenal ballstriker, has had a pretty good
year this year, played well atEastlake in the Tour
Championship.
He's one of the best Ironplayers on tour, which is
extremely valuable in a teamevent situation and match play.

(02:16):
So Colin Morakawa that's not asurprise.
Ricky Fowler he's got Ryder Cupexperience.
Ricky's had a great year thisyear.
He almost won the US Open.
He has had many, many greatyears of putting and putting is
so important in these teamevents and he's got experience.
So he's got a great personality.

(02:37):
He's a team player type of guyand one that players I think can
lean on in the locker room.
Sam Burns so Sam Burns will bemaking his debut in the Ryder
Cup this year.
And, what's interesting, withSam Burns, another guy who's a
great putter.
So he's you know, sam Burns isbuilding himself up as one of

(02:58):
the premier players in the worldand I think a lot of people
expect him to win majorchampionships, so it'd be
interesting to see him play onthis stage.
And then the biggest wild card,I think out of all these picks,
was Justin Thomas, you know.
So I'm not sure how I feelabout that.
I think that one of the reasonshe must have picked Justin

(03:20):
Thomas was you've got, I thinkit was six guys.
I'm looking at my notes here.
We've got, I think, seven guyson the team playing their first.
Let's see, this team includesseven players from that squad.
All six automatic qualifierswill be playing in either their

(03:41):
first rider cup or their firstrider cup in Europe.
So obviously, rider cup, thefans, the atmosphere, home field
advantage is a real thing.
And so for these players, thesesix players, are either playing
in their first rider cup orplaying in their first rider cup
abroad.
Almost the same thing.
So I think Captain Zach Johnsonwas looking at Justin Thomas,

(04:04):
who has struggled mightily byhis standards this year.
I mean, he had a great seasonby average PGA2 player standards
.
But I think he looks at him andfigures he'll rise to the
occasion.
But, more importantly, he's gotthat experience on the big
stage in the rider cup that someof these other newer guys are
going to need to lean on,because, with six of these guys

(04:27):
never having played a rider cupin Europe, they're going to be
leaning on the other players whohave, and I'm assuming Zach
Johnson will be pairing some ofthose guys with the other guys
who have experienced playing arider cup in Europe, because
that's going to be no easy task.
European team has a strong squadas well.
But looking at that, I mean itdoes give you a little bit of

(04:48):
question.
In terms of Justin Thomas isplaying this year because it has
not been great, you know.
And there's some other guys whohave played really well.
You know you've got like aLucas Glover who ended the
season very hot.
He's putting extremely well.
He won the event right beforethe playoffs and then won the
first playoff event in Memphis,I mean, and that's just very
recent play.
So he's obviously playing wellright now.

(05:10):
I think maybe had he finishedlike top three in the tour
championship he could have beenin that conversation.
And then Keegan Bradley hasplayed really well as of late,
but you know, keegan Bradleydidn't just win back to back
tournaments like Lucas Gloverdid.
So in my mind, the other guythat you would consider, aside
from Justin Thomas, is LucasGlover.
The problem with Lucas Gloveris he's yet another guy without

(05:32):
any rider cup experience at all,and then now you're going to
send him to Europe.
You know, maybe if this was ahome match, lucas Glover would
have gotten more consideration.
But you know, the cool thingwith the rider cup and what's so
much different than regulartour golf is that it's it's a
team game.
You know, it's so that thelocker room atmosphere is

(05:55):
extremely important, theexperience is important, the
fans are important, so it's alot different environment than
you would see in a regular tourevent or even in a major
championship.
And so I think, mentally,psychology, wise, experience
level, that all is a huge factorin the rider cup, because all

(06:17):
these guys are great players.
But you know, it's a matter ofhow are they going to handle the
emotion and the the gravity ofthe occasion playing in the
rider cup, because you hearthese guys consistently say some
of those parts that they havein matches they have in the
rider cup.
That's the most nervous theyever have been in their careers.
So it's a big deal for them.
They don't make any moneyplaying in the rider cup.

(06:39):
It's all for pride, it's allfor history, which is what makes
it such great golf on TV, youknow.
And another guy who got the snubI don't know how serious he
really was being considered, butBryson DeShambo.
Bryson DeShambo, you know, shota 58 earlier this year at the
Greenbrier.
That was just a couple ofmonths ago.

(07:00):
He won a tournament.
So he's had a pretty good year.
He played decent in the PGAchampionship.
So you know he's been playingsome good golf.
But you know everything youhear about Bryson not a good
team player, not a good lockerroom guy, and so then you throw
the live thing on top of it andI think it's just too much to
overcome, especially for, in away, match in Europe.

(07:20):
So you know I'm extremelypumped for the rider cup.
This is one of my favorite golfevents to watch.
Masters obviously is my numberone, but rider cup, you know,
that's got to be top three orfour of my favorite events to
watch.
I mean, now that they move thePGA championship up earlier in
the year, that event is a lotmore exciting.

(07:42):
I mean, obviously I love allfour majors, but the rider cup
is right there with those.
I think the rider cup is justso exciting.
And then, with it being everytwo years, with all the pride on
the line, europe versus USA USAdominated the last rider cup,
so it's going to be reallyfascinating to see how they do
abroad, on foreign soil, here inthe booze, here in the cheers.

(08:07):
So really exciting week.
I'm super, super excited towatch that and looking forward
to it, and I hope you enjoy itas well and get out there and
play some golf.
Hey guys, thanks for listening.
I hope you enjoyed the show andgot some valuable information
out of it.
I want to help to educateothers and help people grow
their business and build wealth,and I can only do that with

(08:30):
referrals and your help gettingthe word out about this podcast.
So if you come across someoneyou think of benefit from this,
please share it with them and ifthere's nobody who comes to
mind, a five star review wouldgo a long way in helping me to
grow this podcast and grow thebrand.
So appreciate your support.